Read Across Alaska

The purpose of Read Across Alaska is to promote reading in Alaska and to honor Alaskan authors. This year, JEA is working in collaboration with Juneau Public Libraries, City and Borough of Juneau Parks and Recreation, Sealaska Heritage, and the Juneau School District to provide virtual and physically distanced experiences.

Virtual Children’s Book Illustrator Visit – Wednesday, March 3, 1:00 pm
To sign up for the virtual visit and receive the Zoom link, RSVP here: https://forms.gle/7VUEMWxAqvYh15T9A

We are Water Protectors
March 5 – 7, 2021
Overstreet Park and SeaWalk

Shanyaak’utlaax: Salmon Boy
March 19-21, 2021
Auke Lake Trail

Raven and the Tide Lady
April 2-4, 2021
Rainforest Trail on North Douglas

IditaRead Challenge

IditaRead is a reading project that challenges students to read during the Iditarod dog sledding race which begins Sunday, March 7 this year. Number of pages, number of books, number of minutes read, or even number of books or pages a child is read to, are recorded during the reading race. 

The following resources have been updated to include the Gold Trail loop. Please know that checkpoints and mileage may change before and during the race. The reading challenge dates are March 1 – March 15 on the Google Docs. You are welcome to make a digital copy of the Google Docs and customize for your classroom as needed. 

• 2021 IditaRead Parent Letter (classroom challenge) – provides an overview for parents on the reading challenge
• 2021 IditaRead Student Packet – provides some history on the Iditarod race, trail maps, a student race application, and a musher tracking page
• 2021 IditaRead Checkpoint Reading Log – follows the Gold Trail loop checkpoints. Each minute read = a mile ran on the trail
• 2021 IditaRead Regular Reading Log – a different way students can record their minutes read for two weeks
• Google Earth Virtual Maps – make a copy of this map and use the Southern Route from Willow to Iditarod/Flat and back.
• Teaching in the Tongass – offers Iditarod activities and ideas for the classroom
• IditaRead Project – provides ideas, lessons, and more
• Iditarod – the official Iditarod website where you can keep track of the race as it happens

Virtual Guest Readers
Guest readers are willing to connect with your class via Zoom and share and read aloud a story or a poem. Teachers will need to contact the special guests directly and coordinate a time and a book/poem to read.